Pulmonary Fibrosis

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Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition that causes lung scarring and stiffness. It develops when the alveoli, tiny air sacs that transfer oxygen to the blood, become damaged and inflamed. Body tries to heal the damage with scars, but these scars collapse the alveoli and make the lungs less elastic. Changes in the lungs can also increase the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. This condition, called pulmonary hypertension, makes the heart work harder and it may fail.

Analysis around Belgium on Pulmonary fibrosis got the result as the CYFRA 21.1 levels were significantly higher in BAL of IPF patients compared to controls (P = .0015).Worse survival was observed, but no changes in pulmonary function, for IPF patients with high CYFRA 21.1 levels versus patients with low CYFRA 21.1 levels [P = .030, HR: 0.41, (0.18-0.92).